Install and start your first Malairte full node

A complete step-by-step walkthrough to download, install, configure, and launch a Malairte (MLRT) full node on a home machine.

This walkthrough takes you from a blank machine to a running, validating Malairte full node. It assumes no prior experience. Remember throughout that the node software holds no keys and custodies no funds - you are setting up a verifier and relay, not a wallet.

Step 1: Choose your machine

Pick a computer you can leave on. A spare desktop, a mini PC, or a small single-board computer all work. Make sure it has an SSD with generous free space for the chain plus headroom, and a normal internet connection. A machine you can tuck away and forget is ideal.

Step 2: Download the node software

Get the Malairte node binary from the official download source for your operating system. Verify the download against the published checksum if one is provided, so you know the file was not tampered with in transit. Do not run binaries from unofficial mirrors.

Step 3: Create a data directory

Decide where the blockchain will live and make a dedicated folder for it on the SSD. Keeping the data directory separate from the program makes upgrades and backups far simpler later. Confirm the drive has plenty of free space before you continue.

Step 4: Write a basic config

Create the node configuration file in the data directory. At minimum, point it at your chosen data folder and set the network listening options. Keep the first config minimal; you can tune peers and ports once the node is up and synced.

Step 5: Launch the node

Start the node from the command line so you can watch the output. It will begin connecting to peers and then start downloading the chain. The first lines you want to see are successful peer connections, followed by blocks being fetched and validated.

Step 6: Watch the initial sync

The node now downloads and verifies the entire history. This is the slowest part and can take from hours to days depending on your disk and connection. Leave it running. Progress is shown as a height number climbing toward the current network tip.

Step 7: Confirm you are fully synced

When the node height matches the tip reported by a public explorer, you are synced. From here the node only needs to keep up with new blocks, which is light work. Your machine is now an independent, validating member of the network.

Published May 14, 2026

Frequently asked questions

Why would I run a Malairte node if it does not earn coins?

A node does not earn MLRT, but it makes the network stronger. By validating every block yourself you stop trusting third parties, you help relay valid data to other peers, and you make the chain harder to censor or attack. More independent nodes means a more decentralised, resilient network. Many people run a node on a machine that is on anyway, as a quiet contribution to the project they mine or hold.

Does running a Malairte node hold or store my coins?

No. The Malairte node software has no built-in wallet. It does not hold private keys, it does not sign transactions, and it does not custody any MLRT. A node downloads the blockchain, verifies every rule for itself, and relays valid blocks and transactions to other nodes. Key management and signing are handled by separate software entirely. This separation is deliberate and useful: because the node holds no funds, you can run it on a cheap always-on machine without it becoming a target. Running a node means you are providing verification and relay to the network, not custody.

What is the difference between a node and a miner?

A miner produces new blocks by doing proof-of-work with a CPU or GPU and competes for the block reward. A node validates and relays whatever miners produce: it checks every block against the consensus rules and rejects anything invalid. The two jobs are distinct. A node does no mining and earns no coins; it secures the network by enforcing the rules. Many miners run a node so they have a trusted local view of the chain, but you can run a node without ever mining a single hash. Miners propose blocks, nodes decide which ones count.

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Start mining Malairte the right way

Malairte (MLRT) is a CPU and GPU mineable coin — no ASICs, no specialized hardware. Download the official wallet and put this guide into practice on the computer you already own.

Download the wallet Try the Nodes tools

Educational resource only — not financial advice.